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Schmidt KFR, Huelle K, Reinhold T, Prescott HC, Gehringer R, Hartmann M, Lehmann T, Mueller F, Reinhart K, Schneider N, Schroevers MJ, Kosilek RP, Vollmar HC, Heintze C, Gensichen JS. Healthcare Utilization and Costs in Sepsis Survivors in Germany-Secondary Analysis of a Prospective Cohort Study. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11041142. [PMID: 35207415 PMCID: PMC8879304 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11041142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Survivors of sepsis often face long-term sequelae after intensive care treatment. Compared to the period of hospitalization, little is known about the ambulatory healthcare utilization in sepsis patients. The study evaluated healthcare utilization and associated costs of sepsis care including allied health professions after initial hospitalization. Methods: Secondary analysis was performed on data in 210 sepsis patients prospectively enrolled from nine intensive care study centers across Germany. Data was collected via structured surveys among their Primary care (Family-) physicians (PCPs) within the first month after discharge from ICU (baseline) and again at 6, 12 and 24 months after discharge, each relating to the period following the last survey. Costs were assessed by standardized cost unit rates from a health care system’s perspective. Changes in healthcare utilization and costs over time were calculated using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Results: Of the 210 patients enrolled, 146 (69.5%) patients completed the 24 months follow-up. In total, 109 patients were hospitalized within the first 6 months post-intensive care. Mean total direct costs per patient at 0–6 months were €17,531 (median: €6047), at 7–12 months €9029 (median: €3312), and at 13–24 months €18,703 (median: €12,828). The largest contributor to the total direct costs within the first 6 months was re-hospitalizations (€13,787 (median: €2965). After this first half year, we observed a significant decline in inpatient care costs for re-hospitalizations (p ≤ 0.001). PCPs were visited by more than 95% of patients over 24 months. Conclusions: Sepsis survivors have high health care utilization. Hospital readmissions are frequent and costly. Highest costs and hospitalizations were observed in more than half of patients within the first six months post-intensive care. Among all outpatient care providers, PCPs were consulted most frequently. Clinical impact: Sepsis survivors have a high healthcare utilization and related costs which persist after discharge from hospital. Within outpatient care, possible needs of sepsis survivors as physiotherapy or psychotherapy seem not to be met appropriately. Development of sepsis aftercare programs for early detection and treatment of complications should be prioritized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konrad F. R. Schmidt
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Jena University Hospital, D-07743 Jena, Germany; (K.H.); (R.G.)
- Center of Sepsis Control and Care (CSCC), Jena University Hospital, D-07747 Jena, Germany
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Charité University Medicine, D-10117 Berlin, Germany;
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +49-3641-9395800 or +49-30-450-514-133; Fax: +49-3641-9395802 or +49-30-450-514-932
| | - Katharina Huelle
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Jena University Hospital, D-07743 Jena, Germany; (K.H.); (R.G.)
| | - Thomas Reinhold
- Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité University Medicine, D-10117 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Hallie C. Prescott
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5368, USA;
- VA Center for Clinical Management Research, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
| | - Rebekka Gehringer
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Jena University Hospital, D-07743 Jena, Germany; (K.H.); (R.G.)
| | - Michael Hartmann
- Hospital Pharmacy, Jena University Hospital, D-07747 Jena, Germany;
| | - Thomas Lehmann
- Institute of Medical Statistics, Information Sciences and Documentation, Jena University Hospital, D-07747 Jena, Germany;
| | - Friederike Mueller
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Jena University Hospital, D-07743 Jena, Germany; (K.H.); (R.G.)
- Thiem-Research GmbH, Carl-Thiem-Klinikum, D-03048 Cottbus, Germany;
| | - Konrad Reinhart
- Center of Sepsis Control and Care (CSCC), Jena University Hospital, D-07747 Jena, Germany
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Charité University Medicine Berlin, D-10117 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Nico Schneider
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Jena University Hospital, D-07743 Jena, Germany; (K.H.); (R.G.)
- Institute of Psychosocial Medicine and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, D-07743 Jena, Germany;
| | - Maya J. Schroevers
- Department of Health Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, NL-9700 AB Groningen, The Netherlands;
| | - Robert P. Kosilek
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, University Hospital of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, D-80336 Munich, Germany; (R.P.K.); (J.S.G.)
| | - Horst C. Vollmar
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Jena University Hospital, D-07743 Jena, Germany; (K.H.); (R.G.)
- Department of Family Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum Medical School, D-44801 Bochum, Germany;
| | - Christoph Heintze
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Charité University Medicine, D-10117 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Jochen S. Gensichen
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Jena University Hospital, D-07743 Jena, Germany; (K.H.); (R.G.)
- Center of Sepsis Control and Care (CSCC), Jena University Hospital, D-07747 Jena, Germany
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, University Hospital of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, D-80336 Munich, Germany; (R.P.K.); (J.S.G.)
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Kosilek RP, Schmidt K, Baumeister SE, Gensichen J. Frequency and risk factors of post-intensive care syndrome components in a multicenter randomized controlled trial of German sepsis survivors. J Crit Care 2021; 65:268-273. [PMID: 34280656 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrc.2021.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) is a combination of cognitive, psychiatric and physical impairments in survivors of critical illness and intensive care. There is little data on long-term co-occurrence of associated impairments. METHODS Analysis of data from 289 sepsis survivors from a German multicenter RCT. Impairments associated with PICS (depression, PTSD, cognitive impairment, chronic pain, neuropathic symptoms, dysphagia) during 24 months follow-up are used to explore the frequency and risk factors of PICS components in three classification models. RESULTS The majority of participants showed impairments in 2-3 of 6 domains during follow-up. The overall frequency of PICS according to the classification models ranged from 32.9% to 98.6%. In regression analyses, there were no significant effects in selected ICU-related exposures or covariates for PICS classification models. Regarding individual components, only higher age and longer duration of ICU treatment and mechanical ventilation showed significant positive associations with the occurrence of cognitive impairment during follow-up, as did male gender and higher age for dysphagia. CONCLUSIONS Almost all study participants showed impairments associated with PICS in at least one domain. The proposed classification models for PICS appear to be too broad to identify specific risk factors beyond its individual components.
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Affiliation(s)
- R P Kosilek
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, LMU Klinikum, Munich, Germany.
| | - K Schmidt
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - S E Baumeister
- Chair of Epidemiology, LMU München, UNIKA-T Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany; Institute of Health Services Research in Dentistry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - J Gensichen
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, LMU Klinikum, Munich, Germany
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Schmidt K, Thiel P, Mueller F, Schmuecker K, Worrack S, Mehlhorn J, Engel C, Brenk-Franz K, Kausche S, Jakobi U, Bindara-Klippel A, Schneider N, Freytag A, Davydow D, Wensing M, Brunkhorst FM, Gensichen J. Sepsis survivors monitoring and coordination in outpatient health care (SMOOTH): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials 2014; 15:283. [PMID: 25015838 PMCID: PMC4226940 DOI: 10.1186/1745-6215-15-283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2013] [Accepted: 06/02/2014] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Sepsis sequelae include critical illness polyneuropathy, myopathy, wasting, neurocognitive deficits, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and chronic pain. Little is known howlong-term sequelae following hospital discharge are treated. The aim of our study is to determine the effect of a primary care-based, long-term program on health-related quality of life in sepsis survivors. Methods/Design In a two-armed randomized multicenter interventional study, patients after sepsis (n = 290) will be assessed at 6, 12 and 24 months. Patients are eligible if severe sepsis or septic shock (ICD-10), at least two criteria of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), at least one organ dysfunction and sufficient cognitive capacity are present. The intervention comprises 1) discharge management, 2) training of general practitioners and patients in evidence-based care for sepsis sequelae and 3) telephone monitoring of patients. At six months, we expect an improved primary outcome (health-related quality of life/SF-36) and improved secondary outcomes such as costs, mortality, clinical-, psycho-social- and process-of-care measures in the intervention group compared to the control group. Discussion This study evaluates a primary care-based, long-term program for patients after severe sepsis. Study results may add evidence for improved sepsis care management. General practitioners may contribute efficiently to sepsis aftercare. Trial registration U1111-1119-6345. DRKS00000741, CCT-NAPN-20875 (25 February 2011).
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Affiliation(s)
- Konrad Schmidt
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Bachstrasse 18, 07743 Jena, Germany.
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Löllgen D, Müeck-Weymann M, Beise RD. The deep breathing test: median-based expiration-inspiration difference is the measure of choice. Muscle Nerve 2009; 39:536-44. [PMID: 19296458 DOI: 10.1002/mus.21242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Heart rate variability (HRV) has become an important parameter for the assessment of autonomic function in many areas of medicine. In particular, respiratory sinus arrhythmia measured during the deep breathing test (DBT) is often used. Results are usually expressed in common time-domain parameters. A "most preferred measure" has not yet been identified. We investigated the sensitivity of the DBT to the following anomalies: in-test variance; shifts of mean heart rate; premature ventricular contractions; and breathing rate deviations. Frequency and magnitude of the anomalies were determined in a set of real DBTs (n=514) and transferred to computer simulations to mimic realistic conditions. The sensitivity of standard deviation, mean circular resultant (MCR), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), and four types of expiration-inspiration (E-I) difference were quantified statistically. Median-based E-I differences, E-I ratio, and MCR were most resistant to the anomalies. E-I difference derived by median values should be used preferentially, providing the highest precision and independence from heart rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Löllgen
- Biocomfort Diagnostics GmbH & Co. KG, Bernhäuser Strasse 17, 73765 Neuhausen, Germany.
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Happich M, John J, Stamenitis S, Clouth J, Polnau D. The quality of life and economic burden of neuropathy in diabetic patients in Germany in 2002--results from the Diabetic Microvascular Complications (DIMICO) study. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2008; 81:223-30. [PMID: 18602714 DOI: 10.1016/j.diabres.2008.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2007] [Accepted: 03/22/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe the health-related quality of life (HRQOL), the resource utilization and annual costs associated with diabetic neuropathy (DN) in Germany. METHODS In this retrospective, observational study German internists, diabetologists and general practitioners provided information on 185 adult type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients with DN. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) was assessed using generic and disease specific questionnaires. Socio-demographic and resource use data were assessed from medical charts and through patient interviews. Based on these results, national-level cost estimates were calculated using German unit costs. RESULTS The majority of DN patients were severely impaired with regard to general physical HRQOL. Disease specific HRQOL decreased continuously with increasing DN severity. In accordance, costs associated with DN increased as DN progressed, with costs from the societal perspective increasing about 50-fold from the lowest severity stage (patients with sensory-motor neuropathy without symptoms) (euro431) to patients with lower extremity amputation in the year 2002 (euro21,476). The German statutory health insurance covered more than two thirds of the total costs of DN. CONCLUSIONS The results described in this report show that diabetic neuropathy in adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes generates significant reductions in the patient's quality of life and a substantial economic burden both for society and health insurance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Happich
- Lilly Deutschland GmbH, Saalburgerstr. 153, 61350 Bad Homburg, Germany
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